Caring for my hen in the end

[Jtaranc]

I have a 7 year old barred rock who I discovered had water belly in March. I have been draining her since. Sometimes I’d get 400 mls and 2 weeks later another 400 mls. Then she’d be fine for 6 weeks. Recently I haven’t had to drain as much. I drained her about a month ago and took maybe 100 out, none has come back. I figured the lack of fluid probably wasn’t a good thing. It was our thing, I’d bring her inside and feed her watermelon while I drained her belly.

Laverne has done wonderful throughout everything. She chases and eats mice, is bossy with the other hens. She’s my first chicken so she gets special attention.

Well my rooster mounted her yesterday and I could see she never got up. I thought he’d killed her. She’s an old lady, hasn’t laid eggs in a long time and when I picked her up I could tell she was weak.

I think this is the end. She cannot perch, she falls down. I have her inside on my island. She is eating and drinking. But then goes back to sleep.

There’s no fluid to drain. I think this is the end for her and just want to make sure I’m keeping her as comfortable as possible.

 

[DobieLover]

She looks miserable. Have you considered euthanasia?

 

[Jtaranc]

She looks miserable. Have you considered euthanasia?

The last time I had a chicken euthanized it was a nightmare. It didn’t get all of the fatal plus at once so it laid on it side floppy and drooling and suffering and took forever to die. I can’t imagine that’s better than letting her pass at home with us. We only have 1 vet locally that’ll touch chickens.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

I'm so sorry It does seem like it is the end for her. I don't have any advice. I understand why you don't want to euthanize if you've seen it gone wrong.

 

[Jtaranc]

I'm so sorry It does seem like it is the end for her. I don't have any advice. I understand why you don't want to euthanize if you've seen it gone wrong.

I work in vet med and euthanizing tiny animals like this is always a nightmare. Their veins are so friable and blow easily. She probably has terrible circulation because of her underlying heart issues (thus water belly) so getting a flash anywhere will mean sticking her a hundred times. She has no muscle left to administer any sedation and the large animal vet doesn’t have any gas at his farm where we could mask her down.

Vets will usually try and hit the liver or heart with the injection and tell you it’s humane and they don’t suffer but every single one I’ve worked with wanted the owner out of the room for organ sticks.

In a perfect world euthanasia is always peaceful but in reality it’s not. When it gets outside the vein it BURNS.

I’m not trying to be an ass, she’s warm and has a fully belly, she’s not in respiratory distress, she’s used to being in my home, that’s where she’s gonna pass.

 

[DobieLover]

The last time I had a chicken euthanized it was a nightmare. It didn’t get all of the fatal plus at once so it laid on it side floppy and drooling and suffering and took forever to die. I can’t imagine that’s better than letting her pass at home with us. We only have 1 vet locally that’ll touch chickens.

The fastest, easiest way to euthanize a chicken is decapitation. They feel NOTHING.

I can't do it myself but have a dear friend who does it for me when it is necessary. I can't tolerate seeing an animal with a terminal condition suffer. Do you have anyone that could help you?

 

[Jtaranc]

The fastest, easiest way to euthanize a chicken is decapitation. They feel NOTHING.

I can't do it myself but have a dear friend who does it for me when it is necessary. I can't tolerate seeing an animal with a terminal condition suffer. Do you have anyone that could help you?

Yea we’re not doing that.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you are opposed to ending things yourself then the only advice I have is to keep her comfortable and safe and let nature take it’s course. I’ve had it take weeks. The last time my sickly chicken was out in the yard, enjoying the sun and a special treat with her chicken friends and i looked away for a second and when I turned back she had had a seizure or stroke or something and was laying basically paralyzed in the grass. My husband wouldn’t end her life and I was scared to try so I put her in a quiet place by herself and a few hours later she was gone. If possible I like to keep them outside where they can at least hear and see the flock.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

If you are opposed to ending things yourself then the only advice I have is to keep her comfortable and safe and let nature take it’s course. I’ve had it take weeks. The last time my sickly chicken was out in the yard, enjoying the sun and a special treat with her chicken friends and i looked away for a second and when I turned back she had had a seizure or stroke or something and was laying basically paralyzed in the grass. My husband wouldn’t end her life and I was scared to try so I put her in a quiet place by herself and a few hours later she was gone. If possible I like to keep them outside where they can at least hear and see the flock.

That reminds me of when my parents dog was dying with probably cancer. They tried to get her into the vet, but it was the weekend and the emergency vet was very far. Zoey went outside in her favorite spot in the sun and laid down for a nap, and never woke up.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

I'm very grateful my husband dispatches any animal that is needed, because I'd have a terrible time with it. I understand though that is just to hard for some people. I'm just not ok with it being injected like that it is so unnatural and can be very painful when not done correctly. I know some people are against it with dogs and cats, but they are peaceful at home. No stressful drive to a vet they usually hate going to and scared in a kennel. They are home and safe they don't feel they are in any danger until the very end, and by that time they are gone before they really know what has happened. Hopefully your hen will eat and sleep and pass peacefully. I'm sorry I know it's terrible to watch.